Control system for steam generators



1l Sheets-Shes?I l E. DURHAM ETAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR STEAM GENERATORS Sept. 14, 1965 Original Filed Nov. 26, 1952 fr ,2 O

Sept. 14, 1965 E. DURHAM ETAI.

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR STEAM GENERATORS 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 26, 1952 W mm ON ZV i i W j/ f SUPERHEATER 6 REHEATER 7 C; SUPERHEATER O0 O 00000 00000 0000000000 OO 0000000 00000000000000000000 0000000000000000000 00 O 0J l `000000 OOO000000000000OOOOOOOOOOO0000000000000@0000.00000000000000000000000000@ OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO00000000000000000000OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOJJJ 10000000 0000000000 0000000000000 000000000 0000 OOO 0000000000000000 0000000000000000 w 0 O 0 O O 0 0 O O O O O O 0 O D O 0 O 0 O/O 0 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 D 0 0 O O 0 0 4 2 2 0 O o o O o 0 O C O o o. O O o O O O O o O o O o O O o O o o 0 o O O O O O OOOOJ JO O O O Sept. 14, 1965 E. DURHAM ETAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR STEAM GENERATORS Original Filed NOV. 26, 1952 STEAM TEMPERATURE STEAM TEMPERATURE F 1l Sheets-Sheet 5 IIOo REMOVED BY ATTEMPERATOR SPRAY (DESIRED FINAL STEAM TEMP IOOO W GAS RECIROULATION SOO D S OHARAOTERISTIO CURVE -1 OONVEOTION SUPERHEATER S x BOO I- 12 1 LLI I O 2O 40 60 8O IOO EIOILER LOAD (PER GENT) FIG. 3

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REOIROULATION T RH AND SH DAMPERS FAN STOPS WIDE OPEN I I O UNOONTROLLED SH TEMP -77 R IOOo-x 7/ 1 ,L* f 'T' 5^/ W RA M 4 d NOONTROLLED RH TEMP 90o RI-I DAMPERS OPEN SH DAMPERS OPEN l I I 4 l I 800 I I I T I I SH DAMPERS THROTTLED RR DAMPERS THROTTLED CONTROL POINT LOAD I ]1"III BZ 500 BOO 700 800 900 IOOO IIOO INVENTORS FIG.

BOILER LOAD Iooo am/RR EDWIN DURHAM D HARRY E. WEAVER ATTORNEY Sept 14, 1965 E. DURHAM ETAI.

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CONTROL SYSTEM FOR STEAM GENERATORS 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Nov. 26, 1952 mIuwE.

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IN VEN 'l ORS EDWIN DURHAM HARRY E. WEAVER M 1l Sheets-Sheet 7 m9 t m@ u Sept 14, 1965 E. DURHAM ETAL.

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR STEAM GENERATORS original Filed Nov. ze, 1952 EDWIN DURHAM ll Sheets-Sheet 8 Sept 14, 1965 E. DURHAM ETAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR STEAM GENERATORS Original Filed Nov. 26, 1952 E. DURHAM ETAL 3,205,870

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR STEAM GENERATORS ll Sheets-Sheet 9 N HARRY E. WEAVER ATTORNEY Sept. 14, 1965 Original Filed Nov. 26, 1952 Sept 14, 1965 E. DURHAM ETAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR STEAM GENERATORS ll Sheets-Sheet lO Original Filed NOV. 26, 1952 INVENTORS EDWIN DURHAM HARRY E. WEAVER S2 Ll.

l1 Sheets-Sheet l1 MASS HEAT FLOW E. DURHAM ETAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR STEAM GENERATORS Original Filed Nov. 26, 1952 RECIRCULATED GAS RGF AIR v FLOW LOAD STEAM FLOW Sept. 14, 1965 STEAM PRESSURE A-c: Rouw T543 TR4B TR4A TR4B SH PROPORTIONING Erm.

mi@ TszA Ts3A TS4A TRsA TR4A {(,A TRM MANUAL CONTROL STATION RECIR GAS TS2B TSSB T848 TRBB TR4B AIR Sl SUPPLY SUPPLY FIG. I2

FORWARD REVERSE REGULATE RATE FUEL

United States Patent O 3,205,870 CNTROL SYSTEM FOR STEAM GENERATRS Edwin Durham, deceased, late of Wadsworth, Ohio, by

Bessie Mae Durham, execntrix, Wadsworth, Ohio, and

Harry E. Weaver, lCleveland, Ohio; said Durham assignor to The Babcock 8.' Wilcox Company, New York,

NSY., a corporation of New Jersey, and said Weaver assignor to Bailey Meter Company, a corporation of Delaware Application July 7, 1961, Ser. No. 121,780, now Patent No. 3,161,180, dated Dec. 15, 1964, which is a division of application Ser. No. 322,646, Nov. 26, 1952, now

Patent No. 3,028,844, dated Apr. 10, 1962. Bivided and this application Mar. '17, 1964, Ser. No. 353,030

14 Claims. (Cl. 122-479) This application is a division of our co-pending application Serial No. 121,780 filed luly 7, 1961, now Patent No. 3,161,180, which in turn is a division of our application Serial No. 322,646, filed November 26, 1952, now Patent 3,028,844.

Our invention lies in the field of steam power generation and particularly in the control of steam temperature in connection with present day vapor generators. Practically all central station capacity presently being installed, or on order, in the United States, has rated steam conditions above 800 p.s.i.g. and 800 PTT; the higher operating temperature being 1050 FTT at pressures from 1500`p.s.i.g. to 2000 p.s.i.g. and rated load from 500,000 to 1,000,000 lb. per hr. The problems involved in the generation and close control of the properties of steam are quite different now than was the case at the time of the inventions -in this field which are shown in the prior art. In such plants, the upper limit of superheat temperature is governed by the materials and construction of the turbines served by the steam. In the interest of turbine efficiency, the temperature of the steam delivered to the turbine should be maintained within close optimum limits throughout a wide range of operation.

With the superheating or resuperheating of the steam in one or more convection type heat exchange surfaces, the size and cost of such surfaces becomes a material factor in the total cost of the unit and any improvement leading to a reduction in the size of superheaters becomes of considerable importance. Usually these surfaces must be made of expensive high chrome-nickel alloy tubing to satisfactorily handle the temperatures and pressures encountered.

It is thus a prime desideratum, in the design of such a unit, to proportion the steam generating surfaces and the steam superheating surfaces to give a desired final steam temperature at rated load. At peak load, in excess of the rated load, the final steam temperature will be in excess of that desired while at lower ratings the steam temperature will not equal that desired. This is due to the characteristic curve of convection type heat exchangers which have a rising function with load (FIG. 3). It is false economy to design the superheater for desired final steam temperature at peak load, for at all loads below that valve, the unit would produce steam which is below the desired final temperature. On the other hand, the design of a superheater to produce the desired final steam temperature at some rating below rated load would require an excessive cost of superheating surface and an excessive final steam temperature throughout the upper ratings, with consequent danger to the turbine or the necessity of extracting some of the surplus heat from the superheated steam.

To reach the desired high superheated steam temperature, but not to exceed it, requires careful proportioning of the heat absorbing surfaces both for generating steam and for superheating it. But even if the desired temperature be just attained initially by very careful deload.

"ice

signing at rated load, the temperature will vary during operation by reason of changes in cleanliness of the heat absorbing surfaces. Slag will form and adhere to the heat absorbing surfaces in the furnace thereby reducing the effectiveness of such surfaces and raising the furnace outlet temperature of the products of combustion. Furnace outlet temperature may also change with percentage of excess air supplied for combustion, with the characteristics of the fuel burned, and with the rate of combustion and the corresponding rate of steam generation. All of these things will therefore affect the temperature of the gases, whether the superheating elements are located in the furnace where they absorb heat by radiation from the burning fuel and products of combustion, or whether they are located beyond the furnace where they absorb heat by convection only from the products of combustion.

With the furnace volume, as well as the vapor generating furnace surface, and the vapor superheating surface, fixed and invariable, the possibility of satisfactorily controlling the final steam temperature lies in controlling the volume and temperature of the gases contacting the superheating surfaces. Fuel and air supply must be varied with rating or demand to provide the desired steam flow rate and the desired steam pressure. The furnace temperature of the flame and products of combustion does not vary greatly with rating. This leaves the controllable variables as the mass and temperature of the gases entering the convection superheating surfaces.

For any given furnace, as load increases, the rate of heat absorption does not increase as rapidly as the rate of heat liberation; therefore, the furnace leaving temperature will rise. With both the quantity rate and the temperature of the gases leaving the furnace increasing with load, it is apparent that a fixed surface convection superheater will receive a greater heat rate at higher loads than at lower loads and the heat transfer area is usually designed for receiving the volume and temperature of leaving gases at rated load. Any further increase in the heat release rate supplies to the fixed superheater surface more heat by gas volume andby gas temperature than it is designed for and a corresponding excess final steam temperature is experienced. On the other hand, at operation below the rated load, the lfixed superheater surface receives yless volume and a lower temperature of gases leaving the furnace with a corresponding lowering of final steam temperature. It is therefore, a principal object of our present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for extracting excess heat from the steam at high rating and for supplying additional heat to the steam at low ratings, to the end that the final steam temperature will approximate a uniform value over a range of ratings at each side of the rated load value.

We preferably consider a unit which has been designed to provide the desired final steam temperature at rated Throughout an upper range of rating between the rated load and a peak load, we apply water spray attemperation. As rating decreases, below rated load, we controllably decrease the percentage of liberated heat which is absorbed by the radiant generating surfaces. At the same time the mass flow of the gases of combustion is increased, to the end that a greater proportion of the liberated heat is delivered to the convection superheating surfaces than would otherwise be the case. This control of the mass flow of combustion gases entering the superheating surfaces is accomplished by recirculating to the furnace a Variable proportion of partially cooled products of combustion abstracted from the inlet side of the air heater. The exact location of entrance of the recirculated gases to the furnace is not a part of the present invention.

essere A principal object of our invention is to provide an improved method and control system effective in positioning attemperator control valves and in controlling the recirculation rate of gases.

Recirculation of partially cooled products of combustion is not a new device, With a water-cooled furnace it is known that the heat availability of the gasesV at the entrance to convection superheating surfaces is increased when the percentage recirculated is increased as rating decreases. This may be due to relative increase in gas temperature and/or mass ilow. The lower rating end of the convection characteristic curve is raised While the upper end may actually be lowered. The controlled change in temperature and/or mass flow rate of the gases leaving the furnace may result from different effects of the introduction of recirculated gases at different furnace locations. One theory that has been advanced is of delayed combustion and change in temperature of the combustion process. Another is the blanketing or shielding eifect of the recirculated gases between the combustion process and the radiant receiving walls of the furnace proper. Still other causes may be the dilution of the fresh products of combustion and the heating up ofthe recirculated gases. As the rating decreases from rated load the rate of gas recirculation is increased, thus relatively decreasing the absorption of heat by the radiant generating surface while relatively increasing the heat ilow rate of the gases leaving the combustion zone and entering the superheating surfaces. The present invention provides a control of the recirculation of products of combustion to lower thepradiant heat absorption with decrease in rating and thus to increase the heat flow rate of the gases leaving the furnace and entering the superheating surfaces.

At loads above the control point load, convection superheating and reheaters naturally tend to effect too high a steam temperature, by absorbing too much heat. Bypassing some of the gases about the superheater and reheater surfaces could be effected as a means of avoiding such excessive heat absorption. This, however, involves expensive and spacious structural provisions, and the provision of gas flow control dampers which aresubject to operating difficulties. This type of corrective measure is also somewhat sluggish in its response to control variables.

Spray attemperation is preferable as a temperature corrective measure because of its simplicity inconstruction, ease of operation, and low gas pressure drop. It has, however, had the disadvantage that it has a tendency to effect a loss in overall steam turbine plant eiflciency because of the latent heat loss to the condenser of the vapor resulting from the reheat attemperator admixture Without the advantage of expansion of that vapor through the high pressure turbine. This invention provides for the spray attemperation of steam, with the minimization, or avoidance of the use of reheated spray attemperation, While effecting optimum concurrent control of both the high pressure superheater steam temperatures and the reheated steam temperatures.

The present inventionprovides for the absorption of heat by the superheater and by the reheater by placing them in separated controlled gas paths arranged for parallel flow. Spray attemperators are arranged in connection with both the superheater and the rehe-ater. At a load where the heat carried 'by the gases going over the superheating and reheating surfaces is of such an amount as to result in an excessive absorption by the superheating and reheating surfaces, we regulate the gas flow over the reheater so that it will absorb just suiicient heat to bring the nal temperatures to the desired value. This will result in a gas flow over the superheater surface which will raise the superheater absorption such that if uncontrolled it will give a delivered steam temperature in excess of the optimum, but we reduce this excess by spray attemperation in the superheater section.

From an operating standpoint it is undersirable to create too wide an unbalance of gas flow through the reheater and superheater passes, particularly as an attempt to transmit too much heat to the superheater metal may result in its temperature becoming excessive, and it is therefore contemplated that, under abnormal operating conditions, before maximum overload steam output is reached and for a narrow overload range, some degree of spray attemperation may be carried on in connection with the reheater. As the overload range in the normal loading of a steam plant would be reached infrequently, the elfect on the overall'plant economy will not amount to much.

The installation of a spray attemperator associated with the reheater with provisionto automatically bring it into operation should the temperature become eX- cessive at the reheater outlet, is advantageous from a safety standpoint in giving fullprotection against high temperatures which might otherwise damage the steam turbine, reheater and transmission system.

In the load range below the controlk point where gas recirculation is used as a means to raise Vthe proportion of total heat remaining in the gases leaving the furnace,

we utilize gas iiow control dampers associatedy withy parallel passes containing superheater and reheater surfaces for the purpose of directing an adequate proportion of gas through the reheater pass. This method of damper operation in" the 10W load range below the control point is the reverse of that of the high load range, in that the reheater damper is'open and the proportionate gas flow control is by the damper associated with the outlet of the superheater pass.

Our present invention has as a primary object the provision of method and apparatus for operating, or controlling the operation of, such a vapor generating unit through the utilization of more advantageous indexes of heat availability to the Vconvection superheaters and of operation of the unit as a whole.

In the drawings:

FlG. l is sectional elevation of a vapor generating and superheating unit having reheat surface and employing recirculation, attemperation and gas distribution.

FlG. 2 `is a section along the line 2,-2 of FG. 1 in the direction of the'arrows.

FiG. 3 is a graph of characteristics of a convection type s'uperheater.

FIG. 4 is a graph of characteristics of convection superheating and reheating surfaces of a unit similar to that of FlG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a manual control station for regu-r trol system for a unit such as the one of FIGS. 1 and 2,`

having a single steam `circuit with spray atternperation in both the superheating and reheating portions of the circuit, with gasrecirculation, and with gas proportioning over the parallel superheater and reheater paths.

FIG. 7 illustrates the steam and gas paths of a twin circuit vapor generating, superheating and reheating unit employing recirculation, attemperation, and gas distribution over the parallel paths.

FIG. 8 illustrates diagrammatically apneumatic con` trol system for a twin circuit vapor generating, superheat ing and reheating unit employing gas recirculation7 attemperation in only they superheating portion of the twin circuits, and gas distribution between the parallel superheating and reheating gas paths.

FIG. 9 'illustrates a pneumaticV control system, somewhat similar to that of FIG. 8, but diering as to certain of the indexes used as well as the general method and apparatus of automatic control.

v FIG. l0 represents a pneumatic control system fora twin circuit unit employing attemperation in the superheating portion and with the possibility of attemperation inthe reheating portion ofthe circuit.

FIG. 1l illustrates a pneumatic control system somewhat like that of FIG. but differing therefrom in certain respects.

FIG. 12 illustrates a manual control station for regulating the operation of a twin circuit vapor generating, superheating and reheating unit.

Referring now to FIG. 1 we show therein in diagrammatic form, and not necessarily to scale, a vapor generating, superheating and reheating unit in connection with which we will explain our invention. While this ligure of the drawing shows, for illustrative purposes, only a single steam circuit, it will be appreciated that the same general structural arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be such that the -twin circuit of FIG. 7 may be applied. Thus the description pertaining to FIGS. 1 and 2 is applicable to all of the other figures of the drawing when it be considered that such a structural unit may have either a single or a twin steam circuit. FIG. 2 is a section (to a larger scale), in the direction of the arrows, along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1. Reference may also be had at this time to FIGS. 3 and 4 which show the characteristic curves for steam superheating and reheating surfaces in a unit of this type.

The generator is of the radiant type, having a furnace 1 with walls 2 of vertical, closely spaced plain tubes constituting the vapor generating portion of the unit. Products of combustion pass upwardly through the furnace 1 in the direction of the arrow, through a tube screen 3, over a secondary superheating surface 4 and then through primary superheaters 5 and 6 and a reheater section 7. A tubular economizer 8 is followed by sets of adjustable dampers 9, 10, 11 (FIG. 2) of which dampers 9 are shown in FIG. 1. Following the dampers 9, 10, 11 the gaseous products of combustion may pass to an air heater, but, prior to the air heater, i.e. after dampers 9, 10 and 11, is the recirculation duct 12 joining the recirculation fan 13 which feeds a distribution duct 14 for a plurality of entrance ports 15.

Reference to FIG. 2 will show that the secondary superheater 4 is spanned by a primary superheater section 5, a reheater section 7 and a primary superheater section 6. Thus FIG. 1 shows a sectional elevation through the superheater 5 and also shows only the superheater dampers 9. The invention contemplates the desirable sequence of operation of dampers 9, 10, 11 to controllably vary the fiow of products of combustion through the different heating sections for distribution of the heating gases over the primary superheater and the reheater.

The unit is fired by four horizontal rows of burners which we have designated as X, Y, Z and L. There may be one or more burners in each horizontal row and the burners are supplied with fuel from a plurality of mills. The additional secondary air for supporting combustion is supplied to the burner box 16 by a duct 17 under the control of a damper 18.

In a unit of the contemplated size the temperature of the heating gases first contacting the secondary superheater 4 will probably be in the range 1800-2200 F. Their temperature may be about 1500 F. at a location 20 between the reheater and primary superheater, and about 1000 F. at location 21 entering the econornizer. Gas temperature at location TG is in a measurable range around 1200 F. In the present description we will discuss the use of measured gas temperatures with reference to the locations 20, TG and 21.

We have diagrammatically shown two forms that the gas temperature measuring instrumentalities may take. In FIG. 2 we indicate that we may put a temperature averaging sensitive device 22 across the Width of the boiler at a location 23, or similarly at the location 20. It is true that the gases at location 23 have passed over a certain portion of the heating surfaces but a much more practical temperature is obtained here than at the furnace side of screen tubes 3 or even between the screen 5 tubes and the first row tubes of the superheater 4. The temperature sensitive element 22 may be of the gas filled type or it may be a system of thermocouples or other devices for averaging the temperature across the path. In fact, it may consist of a bolometer system sighted across the path.

In FIG. 2 we show another arrangement wherein a series of temperature sensitive elements 24 may be spaced across the path and so connected Ias to average the temperature values if desired. In FIG. 1 we show one of the elements 24 and obviously the vertical location of elements 24 may be at the temperature measuring locations 2t), TG, 21, or otherwise as desired.

For measuring the gas mass flow (to which referenc will later he made) we indicate in FIG. 1 pressure connections 25, 26 leading to a mass fiow rate meter designated as A, B, C. Preferably the drop in pressure through the sections 5, 7, 6 is Isensed and thus we indicate three flow measuring devices which are designated respectively at A, B, C and are so indicated on other figures of the drawing wherein these three values are used in ascertaining mass heat ow for the three paths.

Following the steam flow path of FIG. 1, it will be noted that steam at saturation pressure and temperature, from the boiler separation drum, enters the primary superheaters 5, 6 through a header 30 and leaves them through a conduit 31 to ya spray attemperator 32. Water for the spray of the attemperator 32 is admitted through a pipe 33 under `control of' a valve 34 positionable by a motive means 35, and the rate of supply of water (WF1) may be continually measured by an instrumentality 36. Temperature (TS1) of the steam reaching the header 30 is measured by an instrument 38 while temperature (TS2) of the steam entering the attemperator 32 is measured by device 39. Steam leaves the attemperator 32 through a conduit 49 and its temperature (TSS) is measured by a device 41. The conduit 46 joins a header 42 of the secondary superheater 4 and steam leaves the secondary superheater from a header 43, passing through a conduit 44 to the high pressure turbine 45. The weight rate of flow (SF) of the steam, the pressure (PS), and the final total temperature (T84), are measured in the conduit 44 at the entrance to the high pressure turbine.

Steam at relatively low pressure and temperature leaves the high pressure turbine through a conduit 46 joining a spray attemperator 47 which is :supplied with water through a pipe 48 under the control of a Valve 49 positionable by a motive means 50, and the rate of supply (WFZ) of water is continuously measured by a meter 51. Steam leaving the attemperator 47 passes through a conduit 52 to the reheater header 53 for the reheater section 7 from which the steam passes to the header 54, through the reheater loop 55, and to the outlet conduit 56 which supplies the low pressure turbine 57. Temperature (TR3) of the reheat steam entering the header 53 is measured by a device 60 while the final reheated temperature (TR4) is measured by the device 5S.

Reference may now be had to FIG. 5 which shows a manual control station 61 upon which are located instrumentalities mentioned in connection with FIG. 1 as well as the necessary pushbutton stations and rate regulating rheostats for` remotely controlling the regulable devices for manually remotely operating the unit in accordance with our invention. On what may be the vertical portion of the control panel we show the steam pressure indicator PS, recorders 62 and 63 of steam iiow and air fiow, recorder 64 of recirculated gas fiow, and recorders 65 and 58 of final superheated steam temperature and final reheated steam temperature respectively. Either steam flow or air fiow may be used as an indication of load or rating and it will be understood that the air flow measurement -in this instance does not include any portion of the recirculated products of combustion. In other Words the air liow measurement is to be taken, preferably of the fresh air supplied to the furnace for combustion, at a ltion in the furnace.

location which does not include recirculated gases. The recirculated gas tlow (RGF) is continually measured by a -rate of iiow meter 6ftconnected across an orifice 67 in the duct l2 and the rate of recirculation is controlled by a damper 68 positioned by a motive means 69. We further provide indicators 39, lll, 60 and 66 respectively of TS2, TSS, TRS and TSA-TRl difference.

On the bench-board portion of the control station 6l we provide forward-reverse-stop pushbutton stations 70 for each of the variables to be positioned remotely. In connect-ion with the fuel supply and air supplyv/e further provide rate regulating rheostats 7l and '72. It will now be evident that, through the agency of the pushbutton station 70 and rate regulator 7l, the fuel supply means may be regulated to satisfy demand, through the remote operation of a motivey means diagrammatically indicated at '73. Similarly thev air supply may be proportioned to the fuel supply through the remote positioning of motive means 74. The superheater attempcrator valve 34 is positionable by the motive means 35 while the reheater attemperator valve @t9 is positionable by the motive means 50. It is evident that the various dampers 60, 9, l0, 1l are respectively positionable through the agency of the motive means 69, 75, 76 and '77.

The manual control station el is usually centrally located and is providedwith electrical switches, etc. for controlling the motors and devices mentioned. lt will now be clear that our improved method of operation of the unit may be manually performed by an operatorV located at the manual-control-station 6l, observing the measuring inst-rumentalities and electrically remotely Iactivating the controls for positioning the various supplies and dampers. vSelective and/ or sequential operation may be obtained as well -as proper proportioning of the fuel and air supply.

' FIG. 3 shows the characteristic curve of convection :superheating surface designed to provide a desired tinal steam temperature of 1000o F. at rated load. Throughout an upper range of rating beyond the rated load the expected final steam temperature would be above the desired 1000 F. value and through this range we apply water spray attemperation to remove excess heat from the superheated steam. As rating decreases, below .rated load, we controllably decrease the percentage of liberated heat which is absorbed by the radiant generating surfaces by recirculating to the furnace a variable proportion of the partially cooled products of combustion.

The graph of FG. 4 shows the expected design curve PR for uncontrolled reheat temperature and MO tor uncontrollable superheat temperature. While these curves are of the same general shape they diverge with decrease in rating and the overall design is such that the average point between the two curves touches the 1000 F. desired nal temperature value at rated load. This we term control point load. The control point load 'considered with respect to steam temperatures for multiple gas pass units as exemplified, might be defined as that load at which the gas flow from the furnace, when the fuel burning equipment is operated at optimum efficiency, yhas the correct total heat content to provide for superheating or" the high pressure steam and for reheating of the low pressure steam to the optimum predetermined temperatures, there being no operating steps, such as gas recirculation, taken to modify the amount of heat absorpln a multiple pass unit the gas flowing from the furnace is so divided between the passes 4at the control point load operating rate that the optimum temperature of the superheat and reheat is attained. At loads between this control point load and a predetermined minimum load, the invention involves an increase in the heat content of the gases for maintaining the nal superheat temperature, and this reference is to gases which first pass over the secondary superheater and then over both sections of the primary superheater. This increase in heat content is effected by a recirculating gas system extracting heating gas from near the entrance to the air heater.

The recirculate-d gas damper 60 is in a wide open position at a predetermined minimum load, and as the load increases from that point to the control point, the damper is gradually closed by the operation of the motive device 69.

The ow of recirculatcd gases is controlled from indications of rating and final steam `temperature T84. This action takes place from a minimum load of the order of 500,000 lb. of steam per hr. to the recirculation limiting control point, as indicated by line TU in FlG. 4. During this part of the operation, the reheater dampers 10 are wide open, and the primary superheater dempers 9 and lll are operated concurrently with the regulation of recirculated gas damper 68 by the pertinent control elements from a visual indication of the reheat linal temperature TRt. When a point corresponding to the reheater design point (say 950,000 load) is reached, the superheater dampers 9, 1l are wide open'and remain wide open in the load range above or beyond that point.

Above the control point load indicated by line TU, superheated steam is attemperated by the spray attemperator 32 to keep its temperature at the predetermined value.l To accomplish this, the operator observes the nal steam temperature TS/tl and operates the pushbutton to position the water spray Valve 34 to regulate water ilow an amount required to limit the iinal steam temperature to the desired value.

Through'the upper load range (above the reheater design point), thereheater damper l0 is throttled by the operator by manual operation ofmeans 76 according to the visual indication of reheat final temperature TR4. Thus, no water spray attemperation of reheat is required from the control point to a point W which is a load value of the order of 1,050,000 lb. of steam per hr. Above this load, and in the overload range to 1,100,000 lb. of steam per hr., it may be necessary to use spray water for reheat attemperation depending upon the extent to which it is considered desirable to limit the heat input into the superheater relative to reheater when considering various factors of which superheater metal temperature, steam pressure drop, and superheater draft loss, may be mentioned. When some such factor limits the load at which all of the attemperation is superheat attemperation then reheat atternperation is initiated for overload conditions. Although a considerable amount of spray water has been used for superheat attemperation between the control point (the line TU) and the load W, such use for superheated attemperation has no such detrimental effect upon the thermodynamic eliciency of the system as would be the use of a similar amount of spray water for reheat attemperation.

In the graph of FIG. 4, the line XW, from a load value of 550,000 to 1,050,000 lb. of steam per hr. represents the control of superheat steam temperature over that range. The curve MO represents the uncontrolled superheat temperature which would have obtained (with heat absorbing surfaces involved) without the use of the invention, and the line PR represents the uncontrolled reheat temperature which would have obtained without the use of the invention.

inasmuch as the pressure and heat content per lb. of the low pressure steam returned to the reheater from the high pressure turbine exhaust decrease with reduction in load, while the pressure and heat content per lb. of the high pressure steam introduced to the superheater remains substantially constant with a corresponding variation in load, the customary installation of convection superheater and reheaterwill give a steam temperature-load graph which will slope downward from maximum load to low load with the result that delivery temperatures from both the superheater and reheater will droop and the outlet temperature-load graph for the reheater will have a greater slope than the corresponding graph of the superheater.

9, This is clearly shown by the relative curves MO and PR. In other words, they are of the same general curved characteristic but as load decreases they diverge from each other.

The shaded area designated SA (which is inclusive of RA) illustrates the extent ofthe load range through which superheat attemperation is effected, with the ordinates above line XW indicating the increase in amount of such spray attemperation with increase of load. The smaller shaded area RA illustrates the extent of the overload range through which reheat attemperation is effected and the ordinates above the level of line XW indicatevthe increase in the amount of spray water so used. It will be noted that area RA is relatively small as compared to SA and whatever use of spray water in the overload range is necessary will be of minor importance as regards the overall thermal efliciency of the plant which will usually operate below the 1,050,000 lb. per hr. load.

In the contemplated operation of the unit and apparatus exemplified through several phases, each involving a different load range, the following takes place with an increase in load from minimum to maximum.

In phase I, gas recirculation is at its maximum rate and the degree of the superheater path throttling is greatest at low load, the reheater gas path being unrestricted. As the load is increased through phase I to the start of phase II, the gas recirculation is reduced to zero, the throttling of the superheater gas path is reduced s that when -phase II is entered the superheater is still throttled to some extent, and the reheater pass is unrestricted. The control point TU lies between phases I and II.

In phase II, the reheater gas pass in continued in an unrestricted condition with further reduction in the restriction of gas ow in the superheater pass and with concurrent introduction and progressive increase in spray attemperation of superheated steam.

There is no restriction to gas ow in the superheater pass in phase III, but the reheater gas pass is progressively restricted, and attemperation of the superheater is progressively increased with increases in load.

In phase IV, the overload range, the superheater gas pass is unrestricted, restriction of the gas flow in the reheater gas pass is continued the same as at the termination of phase III, while attemperation is progressively increased in the superheater and attemperation of reheated steam is initiated and progressively increased. This is effected through operation of the pushbuttons (FIG. by the operator, from indications of final reheat temperature TR4; or automatically by the sequential and relatlve operation of the control instrumentalities later to be explained.

It will be apparent, from a study of FIG. 4, that during phase (I) the recirculation of gases is regulated, either manually or automatically, to raise the uncontrolled characteristic curves PR and MO (to the left of the line TU) until the lower one (PR) coincides with the desired temperature line XW. If this were all that were accomplished it would mean that reheat temperature were brought to the desired value but that superheat temperature would lie considerably above the desired 1000 F. value. Concurrent'ly with regulation of recirculated gases the proportioning dampers for the superheater and reheater parallel passes are so regulated as to divert some of the total gases away from the superheat passes and into the reheat pass. This serves a double function of taking heat away from the excessively highly superheated steam and adding heat to the reheated steam. By proper adjustment of recirculation rate and proportioning of the reheat-superheat dampers both the lines PR and MO are made to substantially coincide with the line XW. If as for loads in phase II in bringing the reheat temperature up to the desired value, it is not feasible to entirely lower the final superheat temperature to the l0 desired values then spray attemperation may be brought into play in the superheat portion of the cycle for extracting the excess heat therefrom.

As rating increases there is preferably a sequential operation between the recirculation and the attempertion with or without overlap as may be found necessary. As pointed out there is desirably a sequential operation between the reheat pass dampers and the superheat pass dam-pers and this sequential operation may be also sequential relative to the attemperation, depending upon design and operating conditions.

Referring now specically to FIG. 6 we show therein an automatic control system for controlling the unit of FIG. l in accordance with our invention. Steam pressure as an index of demand, acting through a Bourdon tube, positions the movable element of a pilot valve Si) to control the supply of fuel and air to the unit to satisfy demand. The pilot valve may be of a known type as disclosed in the Johnson Patent 2,054,464 and is so arranged that its air 4loading pressure output is continuously representative of steam pressure.

The temperature control for both the superheater and the reheater is with a minimum of sprayattemperation, a minimum of recirculation, and a minimum of draft loss due to the sequential operation of the proportioning dampers. For the superheater the controls are arranged forsequential operation of spray attemperation at high load and flue gas recirculation for the lower loads.v For the reheater the controls are arranged for sequential operation of the spray attemperation, if required at high loads, and the proper positioning of the proportioning dampers at all loads. The reheater obtains the full eiect from the flue gas recirculation1 the same as the superheater, both i-n response to changes of operation and in load range. The reheater and superheater are interlocked, temperature wise, to maintain a proper relationship for boiler load outside the control range such as at very low ratings.

FIG. 6 sets the pattern of the invention. While the other drawings shown modification or changes in the control system necessitated because of the type of unit there under consideration, basically the invention is as will be described in connection with FIG. 6. We provide for temperature control at high loads by attemperation of' both superheat and reheat steam, and temperature control at 'lower loads by flue gas recirculation and the proportionmg of gas ow over parallel superheater and reheater passes.

For the superheater control the ue gas recirculation 1s controlled from three elements; boiler dem-and or load represented by total air flow or superheated steam flow, fnl superheat temperature, and recirculated gas ow. spray attemperator operates from the three-elements; gil llllperlljiizrtelrgiratlrr, attemperator outlet temperaonly for su erhe t t e prlmary load index 1s used useful on] Pha a con rol. The temperature TSS 1s y W cu theattemperator 1s 1n service (not 0n recirculatlon ratmgs) because when the attemperator is not 1n -servlce then the temperatures TS2 and TSS are the same. Consequently temperature TSS is effective only on the attemperator valve.

The rating index AF represents a continuous measurement of air supplied for combustion, through the agency of an air flow rate meter 63 connected to be responsive to measured pressure differentials existing across a restriction at thel outlet of the'forced draft fan for example. Thus AF represents the air supplied for combustion and does not include any recirculated products of combustion. The meter 63 is arranged to position the movable element of a pilot valve 81 thereby establishing in the pipe 82 a pneumatic uid pressure continuously representative of AF.

Final superheated steam temperature is measured by the device 65 arranged to position the movable element of a pilot valve 83 and thereby establish in a pipe 84 a The pipe 84 joins the A chamber of a standardizing' relay 85 which may be of the type described and claimed in the Gorrie patent Re. 21,804. Such a relay provides a proportional control with reset characteristics. It provides for the iinal control index TS4 a Heating control of high sensitivity superimposed upon a positioning control of relatively low sensitivity. The function of the adjustable bleed connection 86 between the D and C chambers is to supplement the primary control-of the pressure in pipe 84 with a secondary control of the same or of a diiferent magnitude as a follow-up or supplemental action to prevent overtravel and hunting. The output of the relay 85, available in a pipe 87, is admitted to the A chamber of a totalizing relay 88, to the C chamber of which is connected the pipe 82. Relay 88 may be of the type described and claimed in the patent to .Dickey 2,098,913 and its output is available in a pipe 89 leading to a manualautomatic selector station 90 which is preferably of the type disclosed in the patent to Fitch 2,202,485.

The output of the selector station 90 has a branch pipe 91 joining the A chamber of a relay 92, and a branch pipe 93 joining the A and C chambers of a relay 94. The output of relay 94, through a pipe 95, enters the A charnber of a diiferential standardizing relay 96 similar in function to relay 85. To the B chamber of the relay 96 is joined a pipe 97 having a uid loading pressure continuously representative of the rate of iow of recirculated gas as measured by device 64. The output of relay 96 is available through a pipe 98 and selector station 99 to an accelerating relay 100 for control of a fluid pressure responsive motive means arranged to position the recircu- `lated gas damper 68.

The temperature TSS of the steam leaving the attemperator 32 is measured by the instrumentality 41 which is arranged to position the movable element of a pilot valve 101 thereby establishing in a pipe 102 a fluid loading pressure continuously representative of TS2'. This loading pressure is subjected upon the C chamber of relay 92 whose output, available in a pipe 163, joins a calibrating relay 194 which positions the attemperator valve 34 by way of selector station 105 and pipe 1M.

It will now be evident that we have described, in connection with' FIG. 6 the control instrumentalities for the recirculation damper 68 and the attemperator 34 activated from four variables in the operation, namely TS4, AF, RGF and T83. Final superheated steam temperature T544 is the desideratum to be attained by this portion of the control system and provides the primary control in the A chamber of relay 88. An anticipating effect from the rating index AF provides a secondary control index for the relay 88. The resultant of these etects acts upon both the recirculating damper and the attemperator valve. In this portion of the system it will be seen that the demand for water spray attemperation is established primarily from two factors (TS4) and rating (AF). Therefore, if the actual amount of water sprayed into the attemperator is correct to accomplish the desired result then the temperature TS3 of the superheated steam leaving the kattemperator will be as desired.'

As rating increases from minimum the AF index will start the recirculation fan and effect a primary adjustment on thewgas recirculation damper of approximately the right amount. A Vernier control is effected from T54 through the standardizing relay 85. The control impulse of pipe 95 is scanned by the impulse in pipe 97 (representative of measured RGF) to provide a readjustment if necessary. This function to insure accurate positioning of the damper control drive so as to obtain a definite flue gas flow for each loading pressure in pipe regardless of the damper characteristic and the recirculated gas ow static pressure. In similar manner the control impulse in -pipe 91 is scanned by an impulse representative of T53 to obtain a denite water flow rate for each loading pres- 1i? sure in pipe 91 regardless of valve characteristics, .pump pressure, pipe line resistance, etc.

As rating continues to increase, the i'lue gas recirculation will be further and further reduced until the actuator of damper .68 reaches a predetermined minimum position at`whicl1 point pressure switches will shut down the recirculation fan. This occurs at the control point load TU (FIG. 4). For further increases in rating, if TS4 tends to increase above the desired value, primary control from AF and TSS will position the attemperator valve 34 approximately the right amount, with a final vernier adjustment from T54. The damper 68 and the 'attemperator valve 34 are desirably operated in sequence, with or without a slight overlap as may be demanded by design or operating conditions. Such sequential operation is readily obtained through adjustability of the calibrating relays 94, 104 which may be adjusted to permit the loading pressure of pipe 89 to position the recirculating damper and not aifectthe attemperator valve during the lower ratings. The selector valve 90 Iallows for remote manual positioning of the damper 68 andof the valve 34, with the sequential interrelation, or by completely automatic control of the damper and valve under the same sequential conditions of operation, while selector stations 99 and 105 allow separate remote manual positioning of the damper and valve.

The control of reheat final temperature TR4 is accomplished simultaneously with the superheat control just described. Primary control from low loadsk up to the control point load where recirculation is discontinued, will be from changes in recirculation as determined by the superheat control. If, however, this does not produce the desired iinal RH temperature then the proportioning dampers at the exit of SH and RH will be adjusted by TS4-TR4 difference to maintain equality or a predetermined difference. The proportioning dampers are not separated as to the impulse by the receiving drives are adjusted for sequential operation. The receiving drives -for positioning the damper sets 9-11 and 10 may each be like the power drive shown in FIG. 8 of Gorrie et al. Patent 2,679,829 having a positioner (1) receiving a pneumatic signal through the pipe (133) from a relay (134). As disclosed in the Gorrie et al. patent, the said positioners may be receptive to a pneumatic signal in the range 5-25 p.s.i.g. and may be individually so adjusted that the drive which positions the dampers 9-11 will accomplish a preselected travel whenits positioner is subjected to a loading pressure increasing from 5 to 15 p.s.i.g. while the drive which positions the dampers 10 will accomplish its preselected travel as the pneumatic signal in pipe 120 increases from 15 to 25 p.s.i.g.; thus accomplishing a true sequential movement of dampers 9-11 and `10. Of course the positioning, is in reverse sequence as the signal pressure in pipe 120 decreases from 25 down to 5 p.s.i.g. As disclosed in the present specilication, the adjustment of the drive positioners may be such that an overlapping of movement of dampers occurs if desired.

For the reheat portion of theV steam cycle We preferably separate the control of the attemperator valve 49 from control of the proportioningy dampers 9, 10, 11. This because a control of the attemperator valve has no reactive eiect upon the iinal temperature of the superheated steam whereas the proportioning dampers aifect the nal temperature not only of the reheated steam but also of the primary superheated steam. The control of the RH steam temperature will be atected lby operation of the. gas ilow distribution dampers proportioning the total gases over the parallel paths. As the RH tends to increase above the control point, the RH damper will be throttled as required to reduce the gas flow over RH and divert it to the SH path. On the otherfhand, should the RH temperature tend to go below standard, the RH damperwill be opened wide and if necessary the SH dampers will be throttled to force more gas through RH. Only one of the two sets of damper-s will be throttled at any time, this being when the other has reached its limit of effectiveness. This true sequence is illustrated in FIG. 4. The sequential operation of the proportioning dampers where both are never throttled together provides minimum draft loss and a maximum effective control range.

On the assumption that TR4 and T54 are to be maintained the same then any discrepancy or difference between the two is desirably corrected by way of the proportioning dampers 9, 10, and 11. We indicate the temperature difference meter 66 as having what is known as a center-zero and showing by departure therefrom as t-o whether TS4 is greater than, or less than, TR4. Correspondingly the air-loading pressure established in pipe 115 will continually subject upon the A chamber of a relay 116 a fluid loading pressure of predetermined amount if there is no difference between these two final temperatures, but the loading pressure will depart in one direction or the other depending upon one of the nal ternperatures lbecoming greater or less than the other.

The output of relay 116, available yin a pipe 117, is subjected through a calibrating relay 11S and selector station 119 to be available in a pipe 120 for application to the control drives arranged to separately position the dampers 9, 1t), 11. Usually the primary superheater dampers 9 and 11 would be operated together and as a group separately from the reheater dampers 10. Under certain conditions, it is desirable to further separate and individualize the control of dampers 9 as compared to dampers 11. In the present embodiment however, we consider dampers 9 and 11 as a group but separately regulated in proportion to the regulation accomplished by dampers 10.

We have indicated, in connection with FIGS. l, 2 and 5, that the motive positioners for the valves and dampers may preferably be in the nature of electric motors. On the other hand (FIG. 6) the valves 34 and 49 are shown as iiuid pressure actuated valves and we state here that the motive means for positioning the damper groups 9, 10 and 11 are in this case fluid pressure responsive motive devices of any of several well known forms. Usua-lly these are piston actuated and include the necessary positioning devices for characterizing and interrelating the positioning as desired.

As the rating continues to increase, if the gas proportioning is unable to reduce RH temperature sufliciently then the RH attemperator valve is opened under the control of TR4 and TRS. Calibrating relays 112 and 118 allow adjustability of effectiveness and sensitivity between the proportioning damper control and the attemperator control and also allow sequential operation between the two.

At 110 we show a relay receiving in its A chamber a -loading pressure continuously representative of TRS while to the B chamber we apply a loading pressure continuously representative of TR4. The output of the relay, available in the pipe 111 is imposed upon the Calibrating relay 112 whose output acts through the selector station 113 and a pipe 114 to position the water Valve 49. It will thus be seen that temperature TRS, immediately representative of the elfect of spraying water into the attemperator 47, provides an initial index dictating a positioning of the valve 49. In order to correct for poor valve characteristics and other deviants the final (desirably uniform) steam temperature TR4 is used as a checkback to readjust, if necessary, the position of the valve 49.

It will be understood that the final temperature of the superheated steam and the final temperature of the reheated steam may desirably be the ysame (l000 for example) as is indicated by the line XW of FIG. 4. However, under certain design and operating conditions it may be that there is desirably to be a xed difference between the two final temperatures, for example, TS4 may preferably be l000 F. while TR4 may preferably be 14 950 F. This is readily accomplished by a fixed biasing calibration so that all pressures and actions of the control system are as though the two temperatures TR4 and TS are to be the same while actually they are desirably to be maintained at a fixed difference.

The reheat will normally not require attemperation even at high loads as the reheater is always favored by proper control of gas flow over the reheater with or without the recirculation fan in service.

T he parallel arrangement of superheater and reheater with its control has a distinct advantage over that of a series arrangement as for loads below the control range of either the recirculation equipment or the proportioning dampers, it will be possible to hold a fixed relationship between the reheater and superheater final temperature. That is, the reheater and superheater temperatures may be made equal in value or held to a desired ratio or diiference for all loads below the control range of the equipment. This fixed relationship between the reheater and superheat temperatures for low load operation is made possible by the TS4-TR4 difference controller 66 which primarily controls the proportioning dampers. This temperature difference controller is available at all loads, but at the higher loads where the temperatures are maintained at the proper level the temperature differential elements are relatively inactive. At low loads below the SH controllable rating we avoid the possibility of the control trying to maintain RH at the expense of SH.

Many of the larger units of present day design require dual or twin steam circuits and we have illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 7 the uid circuit of such a unit with a very schematic representation of the gas flow path through the superheaters, reheater, and the recirculated gas passage. The general principles of our invention which we have described in connection with FIG. 6 apply equally as well to a twin circuit unit with additional features peculiar to the equalization of temperatures in the multiple circuits as well as for providing safe and elicient operation.

Steam leaving the separation drum of the unit passes to a header 12S supplying the primary superheaters 5, 6

which feed into a common header 126. Leaving the header 126 the A circuit steam of temperature TSZA passes through an attemperator S1, leaving at temperature TSSA. Similarly steam of the B circuit passes through an attemperator S2 and its outlet temperature is indicated as TS3B. The A and B circuits are crossed to join a common header 127 supplying the secondary superheater 4 which discharges to a header 128. Temperatures TS4A and TS4B designate the nal steam temperatures joining in the conduit 44 to supply the high pressure turbine. Steam at relatively low pressure and temperature discharged from the high pressure turbine 45 through the conduit 46 divides to the reheat circuits A and B which are equipped with attemperators R1 and R2 respectively, and these discharge to the header 129 supplying the reheater 7 which then feeds the header 130 and the low pressure turbine 57.

Gases leaving the primary superheaters 5 and 6 are regulated by the dampers 9 and 11 respectively, while gases leaving the reheater 7 are regulated by the dampers 10. We diagrammatically show the recirculated gas duct 12 taking a portion of the gases from the several heaters, under the control of damper 68 as previously described.

The unit of FIG. 7 may be remotely manually controlled in accordance with the present invention by the arrangement of FIG. l2 to which has been applied the various additional measuring and controlling instrumentalities for the twin circuits.

FIG. 8 diagrammatically illustrates a pneumatic control system embodying our invention with a twin circuit steam generating, superheating and reheating unit, utilizing gas recirculation, as well as gas distribution over the parallel superheating and reheating passes. The design characteristics of this unit being such as to not require of the gases through the parallel paths.

.rate of flow of the recirculated gas.

water spray attemperation in the reheat circuit, the control of RH temperature is entirely by the effect of recirculation over the lower ratings and with proportioning Gas proportioning may be effective for only a portion of the rating range or may be effective across the control point load, and

may be adjusted to be operative in sequence with recirculation or attemperation.

Basically the indexes used and the control actions effected, for maintaining final superheated steam temperature at the desired value, are similar to those explained in connection with FIG. 6. The SH control has a pri- 4mary control from load, Asecondary control from TSS, and a vernier control from T84; for each of the A and B circuits.

In this embodiment we preferably use as an index of rating the temperature TSZA, TS2B of the superheated steam at the entrance to attemperators S1 and S2 respectively. Any disturbance caused by changes in gas flow, excess air, rating, etc., as well as slagging and other furnace conditions is effective at the primary superheater outlet sufficiently in advance of resulting changes or Variations in nal steam temperature as to make the index "TS2 a valuable one in controlling the final temperature We provide at 139 (and at 140) a comparing relay to which the three index loading pressures are subjected.`

The output of relay 139 leads directly to valve S1 while that of relay 140 leads directly to valve S2. Calibrating ,relays 142, 144 provide adjustability for the two valves ,to take care of valve characteristics, etc.

During the lower ratings, below the control point load, the attemperator valves S1 and S2 are both closed and the control of SH temperature is by gas recirculation as .in FIG. 6. In the interest of maintaining the steam ternperatures in the A and B circuits as nearly alike (or-in tive relay 145, in pipe 146, is the selected signal 141, or 4143, whichever is the higher.

As a metering check-back to ascertain if the proper rate of flow of recirculation gas has been established in accordance with the demand, and to take vcare of charac- -teristics of fans, dampers and the like, we further utilize the recirculated gas flow meter 64 to impress, through the pipe 97, a fluid loading pressure upon relay 148 in balancing opposition to that coming from the selective relay 145. Discrepancies in rate of flow of recirculated gas Vbetween that which is desired and the actual rate of flow .appear as a loading pressure in the pipe 150 for positioning the damper 68. I

In some instances it may be ydesired to utilize fan power of the recirculated gas fan as an index rather than the type under consideration it may be necessary onaclcount of physical location, duct work, etc., and desirable for distribution to split the recirculated gas flow and have fit enter the furnace at spaced locations. Distribution between the two portions is shown as being under the control of balancing dampers 155, 156. While damper 68 ,regulates the total flow of recirculated gases, the total may, in being split to the two sides, affect the nal'temperatures of the A and B 'circuits differently. Thus We provide that therecirculation .balancing dampers 155, 156

fare under the control of comparison relay 174 receptive of final reheat temperatures TR4A, TR4B.

*Calibrating relays 142, 144, 149 provide the desired lSeClueDCe COHIIOI D- IeCilCvlllatDn and attemperation, with .60 Upon large units of or without overlap as may be found necessary to prevent hunting. The adjustability of the various devices permits that the three-element impulse for the A circuit, established in the pipe 141, normally begins to open the attemperator valve S1 only (upon an increasing rating) at approximately the time that recirculation of gases is halted. Similarly the three-element control of superheated fsteam temperature for the B circuit, established as a fluid loading pressure in pipe 143, acts to begin to open attemperator valve S2. (upon increasing rating) at approximately the control point load. Thus the sequential operation primarily provides for the use of recirculation at ratings below the control point load and for attemperation above. However, the attemperators are available at any time and should emergency conditions or variations exist and nal temperature tend to exceed the desired value, regardless of the rating, the proper attemperator will come into play to reduce the final steam temperature TS4A or TS4B.

Variations in the rate of recirculation will have an effect upon the nal reheat steam temperature at the same time as affecting the nal superheat temperature. Secondary or Vernier control of the reheat temperature is accomplished by proportioning the total heating gases as between the parallel superheater and reheater passes.

In proportioning the gas flows over the superheater 5, 6 and reheater '7, the final temperature of the reheated steam in each of the two circuits is employed to take into account not only equivalency of the two final temperatures but also relation of the reheat final temperatures with the superheat final temperatures. A dierence meter is provided (similar to meter 66) for comparing the nal steam temperature TS4A with the inal steam temperature TR4A and in similar manner a difference meter 161 for the B circuit establishes a fluid loading pressure representative of comparison. This becomes in effect an anticipating index useful in .correcting for undesirable variations in final steam temperature T84 before they actually occur.

As in FIG. 6 the proportioning dampers are positioned responsive to final temperature difference responsive device TS4-TR4 for each of the twin circuits and the circuit showing the greatest divergence between the two final temperatures thereof is the circuit which dominatesthe proportioning. This is accomplished through the agency of selective relay 164 which selects, for pipe 165, the vgreatest temperature difference as shown up in loading pressures of pipes 16.?. and 163.

Signal 165 is led to the reheat damper control drives ,through a Calibrating relay 167 and simultaneously to the superheat dampers 9, 11 through a Calibrating relay 166. Inasmuch as there are two sets of superheat dampers 9, 11, the output of relay 166 is sent to both damper relays 168, 169.

By changing the gas flow balance as between the total reheat dampers and the total superheat dampers the superheater outlet temperature TS4A and TS4B may tend to drift apart. Actually, any upset in operation that would affect the reheat temperature should affect the superheat temperatures to the same degree. However, if there is a tendency for the superheater temperatures to drift apart, the superheater discharge dampers 5, 6 are biased and will maintain a proper balance. To individualize the superheat dampers 9 and 11, beyond only a comparison with reheat temperatures, We preferably bias the relays 168, 169 responsive to a comparison of the final SH temthe superheater attemperators are always standing by just in case the superheater outlet temperature on either side should climb too high for a short time. Biasing of the superheater dampers 9, 11 is imposed on top of the sequence operation between the reheater and superheater gas passes which is impulsed by reheat temperature.

FIG. 9 illustrates a pneumatic control system for the same general type of unit described in connection with FIG. 8, namely, a twin steam circuit unit employing recirculation, with attemperation in the superheated steam portion of the circuit, with proportioning of the total gas flow over the parallel superheater and reheater passes and without attemperation in the reheat portion of the circuit. Herein We employ a principle disclosed and claimed in the copending application S.N. 283,275, now Patent No. 3,040,719, by Paul S. Dickey of basically comparing the mass heat flow of the gases contacting the convection heating surfaces With the mass heat flow of the steam being superheated or reheated. The anticipating effect resulting from such comparison is of particular benefit in recirculated gas installations and, in certain instances, supplants the use of a rating index and a recirculated gas flow measuring index. Such a system, including the features of our invention is illustrated in FIG. 9 and will now be described.

The iiuid loading pressures representative of TSSA and TS4A join a relay 139 whose output in a pipe 141 serves to position the attemperator valve S1. Similarly the effects representative of TSS-B and TS4B are imposed upon a relay 149 whose output in pipe 143 serves to position the attemperator valve S2.

The recirculated gas damper 68 is under the conjoint control of the output in pipe 146, a measurement of steam flow, and a measurement of mass heat fiow rate. These three effects are imposed upon a relay 17S whose output, acting through a standardizing relay 176, is available in the conduit 177 for positioning the damper 68. It is now advisable to explain the establishment of a fluid loading pressure in pipe 17S representative continuously of mass heat flow rate over the convection heating surfaces.

In connection with FIG. 1 we mentioned the pressure connections 25, 26 at chosen locations in the gas flow path over at least a portion of the superheating surfaces. We preferably duplicate this measurement for each of the three passes i.e. the reheater pass 7 and the two superheater passes and 6. As diagrammatically indicated in FIG. l the pressure taps 25, 26 are connected to a measuring device 186 which is arranged to effectively average `or totalize the rate of gas flow through the three parallel passes. This total mass flow, compensated for average gas temperature TG, in mass heat flow meter 181, estabfishes in the pipe 178 a fluid loading pressure continuously representative of mass heat flow over the convection heating surfaces.

The temperature of the heating gases leaving the unit at dampers 9, 10 and 11, or even at location 21 prior to the economizer 8, does not vary materially with rating or furnace operation. On the other hand the temperature of the gases entering the superheating paths as at locations 23;, 20 will vary Widely both with rate of unit operation as well as with furnace conditions, heat absorption in the furnace, recirculation of gases, etc. Thus, a considera-ble span in the travel path of the gases between the furnace and the dampers exists wherein a temperature measurement will reflect, to a lesser degree but still representative thereof, entering temperature variation of the gases and at a measurably lower gas temperature. Preferably we employ a measurement at about the location designated TG in FIG. lv and would probably employ temperature sensitive elements similar to those designated 24. Through this agency we may ascertain the temperature of the gases contacting the superheaters 5, 6 and reheater '7, separately or as an average.

The location TG for temperature measurement of the gases contacting the convection heating surfaces will be somewhere along the heat exchange surfaces where the temperature will refiect furnace temperature and firing conditions prior to fluctuations in steam temperature within the superheating surfaces which Would be a result of the changed firing condition. Thus, the temperatures at TG are chosen as cause indexes rather than making use of result indexes. The primary purpose of the present invention is to maintain the finall total temperature T54 of the steam and TR4 of the reheated steam each as nearly constant at the optimum or desired value as is possible regardless of variations in demand upon the unit as a whole.

As pointed out in greater detail in the Dickey application the convection heating surfaces are, in effect, a heat exchanger in which for every load (SF) we may -obtain a value for (Qg-TG), compare values (SF) and (Qg.T G) to see if the heat supply rate is right for the heat demand rate, control the heat supply rate until it is equal to the demand rate, and check back from a measure TS4 of the final steam temperature to take care of any discrepancies. Another way of stating this is that we provide a threeelement control. We control heat input rate to satisfy heat demand and correct the rate of heat input if the balance does not result in the `desir-ed final heat level (temperature) of the output.

It will be observed that this is exactly what the control instrumentalities `of FIG. 9 accomplish. The relay receives a loading pressure representative of SF as well as a loading pressure representative of mass heat flow. It compares these loading pressures and has a check-back from the pipe 146 representative of the higher (or lower) of the final steam temperatures TS4A, TSlB through the agency of selective relay 145. The output of the relay 175, acting through the standardizing relay 176 is available through a pipe 177 for positioning the recirculating gas damper 68 to regulate the mass heat ow of the gases passing over the convection heating surfaces.

The control of gas mass heat flow or heat available rate to satisfy steam mass heat iiow required (to compensate for the anticipated steam temperature change with changes in rating and furnace conditions) provides a desirable basis of more directly going to the source of changes affecting final steam temperature (and anticipating the effect) than to depend only on a load index (steam flow rate or air flow rate) with a check-back from final steam temperature.

Control of proportioning of the heating gas flow between the two superheater passes 5, 6 and the reheater pass 7, is conjointly from a measure of mass heat flow rate and temperature difference between the final superheated steam temperature T54- and the final reheat temperature TR4. The temperature difference met-er 66 establishes a loading pressure in the pipe 115 acting through the standardizing relay 116 an-d output pipe 117 upon the A chamber of a comparing relay which receives in its C chamber a loading pressure from the pipe 173 representative of mass heat flow rate. Thus mass heat flow rate, which is effected by recirculation of partially cooled heatlng gases and is a measure of the available heat in the gases, is primarily effective in the reheat control relay 167y and the superheat control relay 166 for proportioning the gases. The second element in the control is the temperature difference 'between T84 and TR4. As in FIG. 8, the output of relay 166 is .applied tothe relays 168, 169 with .the effect of these relays biased by the loading pressure 1n pipe 170. FIG. 10 is somewhat analogous toY FIG. 6 except that 1n IFIG. l0 We show a twin circuit with attemperation in both the superheating and reheating portions although, as previously explained, the entire arrangement is such as to minimize the amount of attemperation used in the reheat portion of the circuit. 

1. APPARATUS ARRANGED TO AUTOMATICALLY CONTROL THE HEATING OF VAPOR IN A GENERATING UNIT HAVING A CONVECTION HEATED TUBULAR VAPOR PATH AND CONVECTION HEATED TUBULAR REHEAT VAPOR PATH DISPOSED RESPECTIVELY IN DIVIDED AND SEPARATE MATERIALLY CONFINED PARALLEL GAS FLOW PATHS FROM A COMMON STRUCTURALLY DEFINED COMBUSTION ZONE, THE SUPERHEATER AND REHEATER HAVING GENERALLY SIMILAR UNCONTROLLED LOAD-TEMPERATURE CHARCTERISTIC CURVES WITH DIFFERENT DEGREES OF SLOPE, INCLUDING IN COMBINATION, APPARATUS ADAPTED TO AUTOMATICALLY REGULATE THE HEAT AVAILABILITY OF THE TOTAL HEATING GASES PASSING OVER THE SUPERHEATER AND REHEATER TO MAINTAIN SUPERHEAT AND REHEAT OUTLET TEMPERATURES AT PREDETERMINED VALUES THROUGH A LOAD RANGE BELOW A PREDETERMINED CONTROL POINT LOAD, OTHER APPARATUS ADAPTED TO AUTOMATICALLY LIMIT SUPERHEAT AND REHEAT TEMPERATURES THROUGH A LOAD RANGE ABOVE THE CONTROL POINT LOAD, SEPARATE DAMPER MEANS FOR THE PARALLEL GAS FLOW PATHS, AND CONTROL DEVICES ARRANGED TO POSITION SAID DAMPERS THUS PROPORTIONING THE TOTAL HEATING GAS FLOW BETWEEN THE PARALLEL PATHS THROUGH AN INCREASING LOAD OVER THE CONTROLLABLE LOAD RANGE BY MOVING ONE OF SAID DAMPERS ONLY THUS VARIABLY RESTRICTING GAS FLOW OVER ONE PATH WHILE ALLOWING UNRESTRICTED GAS FLOW OVER THE OTHER PATH THROUGH A LOWER PORTION OF THE CONTROLLABLE LOAD RANGE AND THEN MOVING THE OTHR DAMPER ONLY THUS VARIABLY RESTRICTING GAS FLOW OVER SAID OTHER PATH WHILE ALLOWING UNRESTRICTED GAS FLOW OVER THER SAID ONE PATH THROUGH THE REMAINING UPPER PORTION OF THE CONTROLLABLE LOAD RANGE, THE CONTROL DEVICES SEQUENTIALLY RESPONSIVE TO LOAD DETERMINATION. 